Fence-post



No. 612,052. t :1 I898 D. s. McMULLEN. Patented FENCE POST..

(Application filed. Nov. 29, 1897.)

dumwvwwillfl i V'Zrzea 666 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID S. MCMULLEN, OFfEVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,052, dated October 11, 1898.

Application filed November 29,1897. Serial No. 660,064. (No model.)

To xiii-whom it mat/concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID S. MCMULLEN,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide means for preventing the vertical and lateral movements of the post, to strengthen and protect the post at the surface of the ground, and to secure cheapness and lightness of construction. These objects are attained in the construction hereinafter fully described,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal View of my improved post, showing -it as set in the earth, the latter being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a plan section of the post on the line 2 20f Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail elevation viewed from the line 4 4: of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a plan section of the post on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. g

This invention relates particularly to metal posts. Heretofore the usual practice has been to make the post with a large hollow shaft, so as to provide a considerable area of bearing-surface to prevent its lateral movement in the earth. Such a post is necessarily of great weight, so that its cost is very considerable :and the cost of transportation is very high. In order to reduce the weight as much as possible, the post is usually made,whether it be of cast or wrought iron, with a comparatively thin shell. The greatest injury to a fence-post from rust or decay occurs at the surface of the ground, and the post deteriorates so rapidly at this point, which is also the point of greatest strain, that its life is comparatively short. All these difficulties are overcome in my improved post, in which I use a shaft, (marked in the drawings A,) preferably of wrought-iron, of small diameter throughout its entire length. The shaft isprovided with a foot-piece B, preferably of cast-iron, in disk form and having an upwardly-projecting annular flange b for encircling the end of the post, and radial flanges b, extending upwardly from the disk B. A block 0, preferably of cast-iron, is fixed upon the shaft at such point that it will project above and below the surface of the ground when the post is set, and which for the purpose of shedding water preferably tapers upwardly, as shown at c. A plurality of wings or blades D project radially from the block 0 and may be limited to its lower portion, as shown, so that they will be entirely buried when the post is set. These wings D are shown as being vertical or in planes parallel with the axis of the shaft; but it is obvious that this exact relation need notbe sustained, the purpose of the blades being to offer resistance to any lateral strain upon the post. The blades are shown as being three in numher; but as many may be employed as may be desired, such a number or such a form of construction being followed that these wings offer resistance to lateral strain upon the shaft ens it by the application of a very considerable mass of metal at the point at which disintegration is most active, so that I am able to use a comparatively light shaft and still secure firmness of setting and durability.

The form of the shaft is entirely immaterial. It may be a simple tube or rod, or it may be of any preferred angular form in cross-section. I have shown it as being cylindrical in form. It is obvious that if this form is departed from the form of the flange b of the foot-piece will vary accordingly. The foot-piece and the wing-block C may be secured upon the shaft in any desired manner.

If desired, the foot-piece may be dispensed with, as indicated in Fig. 4, the shaft being pointed, so that it may be driven. IVhen this construction is followed, the post is more diate of its ends, and adaptedtoproject above having blades or Wings radiating from its I0 and below the surface of the earth when the lower portion; anda block cast upon the lower post is set, and a base-piece near the lower end of the post. end of the post. In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 2. In afenoe-post,in combination,a wroughtin presence of two Witnesses.

metal shaft, an upwardly-tapering block east DAVID S. MCMULLEN. upon the shaftin such position that it is adapt- \Vitnesses: ed to extend above and below the surface of J'NO. M. TELLS, the ground when the post is set, such block VVINSOR CHASE. 

